Slimming World with Carmel

Carmel is a stay at home mum who was so unhappy with herself and the way she looked. Since joining slimming World last September, she has lost a whopping 5 stone, reached her target and is now planning on using her success to help others turn their lives around and achieve their own weight loss goals.

Carmel has dropped from a size 20/22 to a 12/14. After a lifetime of yo yo dieting, she was determined to change her lifestyle and eating habits once and for all.

I have always struggled with my weight and it has been a constant source of unhappiness in my life for many years. I never wanted to go anywhere as I had nothing nice to wear, weddings and family occasions filled me with dread. When I look back at old photos of myself, I can see how unhappy I was...even though my mouth was smiling, I can see the sadness in my eyes, I felt 'dead' inside. But, now for the first time in years, the smile is genuine and I feel like I have a second chance of life and I'm going to grab it with both hands.

Before I joined Slimming World, my weight also affected my health. I would be out of breath walking up the stairs, I suffered heartburn after almost every meal and I felt exhausted most of the time. The bigger I got, the more my confidence shrank. I hated clothes shopping and I was always comparing myself to other girls trying on their skimpy outfits, then I'd get upset because I hated what I saw looking back at me in the mirror of the changing room. I would put on a brave face but, inside I was sobbing my heart out.

The light bulb moment for me was when my Sister- In- Law announced in August 2016 that she was getting married at Easter. I panicked...I knew I had to do something, I was determined not to be the biggest person at the wedding and feeling I would ruin the family photos. So when her Fiance suggested that he was going to join Slimming World, I made a pact with him that I'd join too.

However it did take me another three weeks to pluck up the courage to take the first steps and walk through the doors of Slimming World. When I entered the room, I was filled with dread, self –loathing and hope...hope that this would work for me. I needn't have worried, I was made to feel welcome and was never ridiculed or judged. Everyone in the room was friendly and there was no competition, just support for one another.

At the new members talk I was introduced to food optimising- Slimming world's healthy eating plan. It was like nothing I'd ever tried before and nothing is off limits. I could still enjoy my favourite foods and lose weight.

After my first week I'd lost 4 lbs and my first stone came after 6 weeks. It was just the incentive I needed to carry on.

I found the plan easy to stick to and as a family we now all eat the Slimming World way. We can still enjoy all the food we used to eat like chicken curry, lasagna, burger and chips, but in a healthy way now. planning is my key to success and I always have plenty of quick 'go to' food in the fridge such as chicken, eggs, ham and salad, as this way I'm less likely to snack on unhealthy food.

Before joining Slimming World, I was fooling myself that biscuits and crisps didn't count as real food, so I could almost pretend I didn’t have them, but now I'm so conscious of what I eat and if I feel like a biscuit or crisps I know that I can include them into my plan.

Nothing is off limits I still love Eating I just choose wisely from the menu, ordering cooked meats and lots of veg instead of bread, and creamy sauces added to my meals. I never feel deprived and I can eat as much as I want and still factor in my treats.

My high point came in June when we went on our first family sun holiday and being 4 and a half stone lighter at the time meant I didn’t have to worry this time about the plane seat belt fitting me, it fitted with room to spare.! By the end of August 2017, just under a year after joining Slimming World, I'd reached my target and lost 5 stone, I couldn’t be happier. I now feel like I'm the person I was always meant to be. Slimming world gave me my life back and it can do the same for you!

THIS IS NOT A DIET,

IT'S A LIFESTYLE CHANGE.

I am now a Slimming World consultant and have completed part one of my training in The Slimming World Acadamy in Derbyshire in September. I recently relaunched the two groups in Navan Rugby Club on Thursdays 9:30am & 11:30am and Friday at 9.30am.